A Melbourne undertaker told his boss he stole from dead people because he had money troubles, a court was told.
David Rawlins allegedly confessed to his boss Alan Harris he committed the thefts while on the job because he had credit card debt and financial problems, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard.
The revelation came during evidence from Mr Harris, managing director of Bell Funeral Services where Rawlins, 37, was employed as a driver to collect bodies for the coroner.
Mr Harris said he was "quite shocked" when police informed him that Rawlins had been charged with theft.
Rawlins soon after confessed to him by telephone, he said.
"I said David, is this true?" Mr Harris told the court.
"He said `yes'." Mr Harris said he then told Rawlins to confess to police.
"I said you'd be better off to come clean now," he said.
"He said he wouldn't do that.
"I was quite taken back and surprised when he said to me he had had done that and was guilty of that."
Rawlins, of Hawthorn East, is pleading not guilty to seven counts of theft, one of burglary and one of attempted theft for cash and goods valued at over $A1,200 ($NZ1,490).
The court was told he allegedly rifled through drawers, wardrobes and containers at deceased people's homes and helped himself to their possessions.
Mr Harris said he sacked Rawlins after his admission and informed police.
Under cross examination by defence lawyer Michael Pena-Rees, Mr Harris denied making up Rawlins' confession because he wanted to protect himself over another matter.
Mr Rees suggested Mr Harris directed a staff member to lie in a letter to the coroner about a deceased person's missing belongings.
But Mr Harris said he was not aware of such a letter and laughed off the claim he had "a lot to lose".
"Bring it on," he said.
The court previously heard Rawlins once told a colleague he would take dead people's belongings because they "didn't need it anymore" and police would take what they wanted from the scene "so whatever was left was for us".
The contested hearing continues on Thursday.
